Federal Action

H.R.6645, The Hemp Advancement Act of 2022, was introduced by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in the 117th Congress to help address unresolved complications imposed by the 2018 Farm Bill hemp provisions. The bill did not pass, but the U.S. Hemp Roundtable is advocating for several provisions within the legislation to be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. See our campaign and call to action below. 

The Hemp Advancement Act protects producers of “in-process” hemp and hemp extracts, and repeals the policy that prevents persons with prior drug felony convictions from obtaining a hemp license.

Under the current regulatory regime established by the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp growers and processors struggle to navigate onerous THC testing and transportation requirements along with a discriminatory policy precluding persons with prior drug-related felonies from participating in the market. The simple, straightforward amendments to the 2018 Farm Bill provisions outlined within The Hemp Advancement Act of 2021 would help eliminate some of the overbearing regulatory risks for hemp producers and accomplish the goal of creating new opportunities for advancing the hemp industry. 

If passed, The Hemp Advancement Act would — 

(1) Raise the legal THC threshold for “in-process” hemp and hemp extracts from 0.3% to 1.0%

(2) Provide protections for processing and transportation of “hot” hemp (hemp material that tests above the legal THC threshold)

(3) Remove the DEA registered lab requirement for testing

(4) Repeal the controversial drug felon ban which prevents any persons with a felony drug-related conviction from obtaining a hemp license